There Is or There Are: Agreement Rules and Examples

“There is” agrees with a singular countable noun or an uncountable noun, while “there are” agrees with a plural countable noun. In these existential sentences, “there” introduces the statement and the noun phrase after the verb supplies the grammatical number: “There is a problem,” but “There are two problems.”

Key Facts at a Glance

There is precedes one singular countable noun: “There is a solution.”

There is also precedes an uncountable noun: “There is some water.”

There are precedes a plural countable noun: “There are several solutions.”

In a phrase such as “There is a book and two pens,” formal agreement can differ from conversational proximity agreement.

“There’s” is the normal contraction of “there is,” but it is also widely used with plural nouns in informal speech.

Professional and academic writing normally uses “there are” with plural subjects and avoids “there’re.”

What Is the Difference Between There Is and There Are?

“There is” and “there are” are forms of the existential construction there + be, which states that a person, object, event, or condition exists or occupies a particular place or time. The choice depends on the number and type of the noun phrase that follows the verb.

Compare these sentences:

• There is a key on the table.
• There are three keys on the table.
• There is some coffee in the pot.

The word there has a special grammatical role. In “There is a key,” it does not mean a location. The location appears later in “on the table.” The noun phrase a key is the delayed subject, so the verb must agree with that noun phrase.

The ordinary word order is different:

• A key is on the table.
• Three keys are on the table.

Existential clauses reverse the usual order to present the existence of something before identifying it. The construction is especially useful when the listener does not yet know which person or thing the sentence will introduce.

When Should You Use There Is?

Use there is before a singular countable noun or an uncountable noun. A singular countable noun normally requires an article or another determiner, whereas an uncountable noun does not take a or an.

Examples with singular countable nouns:

• There is a message on your phone.
• There is one seat available.
• There is an error in the calculation.
• There is the possibility of rain tomorrow.
• There is another route through the park.

Examples with uncountable nouns:

• There is some information in the report.
• There is enough rice for four people.
• There is little evidence supporting that claim.
• There is a lot of traffic on the motorway.
• There is no furniture in the empty apartment.

The noun’s meaning matters more than its final letter. News, information, advice, equipment, research, and furniture are generally uncountable in standard English, even when they refer to many individual facts or objects.

Noun phrase	Correct form	Example
a problem	There is	There is a problem with the printer.
one applicant	There is	There is one applicant remaining.
some advice	There is	There is some advice in the handbook.
much traffic	There is	There is too much traffic today.
a piece of equipment	There is	There is a piece of equipment missing.

Why Do Uncountable Nouns Use There Is?

Uncountable nouns use there is because standard English treats them as grammatically singular. Water may contain millions of droplets, and information may contain many facts, but water and information are not normally counted as separate units without an additional measure word.

Use a countable unit when you need to express separate items:

• There is some advice in the email.
• There are three pieces of advice in the email.
• There is some research on the subject.
• There are four research studies on the subject.
• There is equipment in the laboratory.
• There are six pieces of equipment in the laboratory.

This distinction prevents a frequent error: There are many informations is not standard English. Write There is a lot of information or There are many pieces of information.

When Should You Use There Are?

Use there are before a plural countable noun. Plural nouns identify two or more separate people, places, objects, events, or ideas.

Examples include:

• There are two invoices in the folder.
• There are several restaurants near the station.
• There are many reasons to revise the policy.
• There are a few changes in the latest version.
• There are ten applicants for the position.

Numbers and plural quantifiers make the choice straightforward. Two, three, many, several, a few, and both require a plural noun, so they normally take there are.

Quantifier	Noun type	Correct example
one	singular countable	There is one vacancy.
a/an	singular countable	There is an opening.
some	plural or uncountable	There are some errors.
many	plural countable	There are many options.
much	uncountable	There is much uncertainty.
a few	plural countable	There are a few seats.
a little	uncountable	There is a little time.
several	plural countable	There are several causes.

The word some can appear with either form because it can modify plural countable nouns or uncountable nouns:

• There is some milk in the refrigerator.
• There are some bottles in the refrigerator.

The noun, not some, determines the verb.

How Do You Choose Between There Is and There Are?

Identify the noun phrase immediately following the verb, then classify that noun as singular, plural, or uncountable. Choose there is for singular and uncountable nouns, and choose there are for plural countable nouns.

Use this four-step method:

1. Find the noun phrase.
   In “There are three broken windows,” the noun phrase is three broken windows.
2. Ignore descriptive words.
   In “There is a box of old photographs,” the head noun is box, not photographs.
3. Classify the head noun.
   Box is singular, so the sentence requires there is.
4. Check the determiner.
   “A,” “an,” and “one” signal singular countable nouns; “many,” “several,” and numbers above one signal plural countable nouns.

Sentence	Head noun	Number	Correct verb
There is a box of files.	box	singular	is
There are boxes of files.	boxes	plural	are
There is a list of names.	list	singular	is
There are lists of names.	lists	plural	are
There is some useful advice.	advice	uncountable	is

The most important editing rule is to avoid matching the verb with the nearest noun automatically. In “There is a box of photographs,” photographs is plural, but it belongs inside the prepositional phrase of photographs. The head noun is box, which controls agreement.

What Happens With a List of Nouns?

With coordinated nouns, formal agreement usually treats the whole subject as plural, but conversational English often follows the noun closest to the verb. Writers should use the clearest form and avoid awkward lists when possible.

Sentence	Common status	Recommended context
There is a laptop and three notebooks on the desk.	Common proximity agreement	Conversation
There are three notebooks and a laptop on the desk.	Plural agreement	Conversation and writing
There are a laptop and three notebooks on the desk.	Grammatically defensible but less natural	Formal editing
A laptop and three notebooks are on the desk.	Direct plural subject	Formal writing
The desk contains a laptop and three notebooks.	Active alternative	Precise reports

When the first noun is singular, many speakers say There’s a laptop and three notebooks on the desk. This pattern follows proximity agreement, in which the verb matches the first noun after there. The construction is common, but some editors prefer there are because the coordinated subject contains multiple items.

The safest formal solution is often to rewrite the sentence:

• A laptop and three notebooks are on the desk.
• The desk contains a laptop and three notebooks.

Rewriting removes a disagreement that style guides treat differently. It also gives the sentence a stronger grammatical subject.

Do Collective Nouns Take Is or Are?

A collective noun takes there is when the noun phrase is singular, as in “There is a group of people outside.” The plural noun people does not control the verb because it appears inside the phrase of people, which modifies group.

Correct examples:

• There is a group of visitors outside.
• There is a team of engineers in the meeting.
• There is a crowd of supporters near the entrance.
• There is a family waiting in reception.
• There are several groups of visitors outside.

The distinction changes when the collective noun itself is plural:

• There is a series of workshops this month.
• There are two series of workshops this month.
• There is a collection of historical maps.
• There are several collections of historical maps.

British and American English can differ when a collective noun refers to members acting individually. For example, British English may use The team are discussing their options, while American English more often uses The team is discussing its options. In an existential clause, however, the noun phrase still controls the basic number: There is a team, not There are a team.

Is There’s Correct Before a Plural Noun?

“There’s” is formally the contraction of “there is,” but native speakers frequently use it before plural nouns in casual conversation, especially before phrases such as “a lot of,” “many,” or “two.”

Examples heard in informal speech include:

• There’s two messages for you.
• There’s several ways to solve the problem.
• There’s many reasons for the delay.

In formal writing, use there are:

• There are two messages for you.
• There are several ways to solve the problem.
• There are many reasons for the delay.

The contraction there’s is standard before singular and uncountable nouns:

• There’s a delay.
• There’s some coffee left.
• There’s no reason to panic.

The form there’re exists in theory as a contraction of there are, but it is rare, awkward to pronounce, and generally absent from edited prose. Write there are, including in business documents, academic essays, reports, and applications.

Form	Informal speech	Formal writing	Example
there is	Standard	Standard	There is a delay.
there’s	Standard contraction	Usually acceptable	There’s a delay.
there are	Standard	Standard	There are delays.
there’re	Rare and awkward	Avoid	There’re delays.

How Do Negatives and Questions Work?

Negative existential sentences use there isn’t with singular or uncountable nouns and there aren’t with plural countable nouns. Questions place is or are before there, while the noun that follows still determines agreement.

Examples:

• There isn’t a problem with the file.
• There isn’t any coffee left.
• There aren’t any cookies left.
• There aren’t enough chairs for everyone.

Questions follow the same agreement rule:

• Is there a pharmacy nearby?
• Is there any water in the tank?
• Are there two entrances?
• Are there enough copies for the class?

Short answers preserve the same auxiliary:

• Is there a mistake? Yes, there is. / No, there isn’t.
• Are there any mistakes? Yes, there are. / No, there aren’t.

Do not let any determine the verb. Any modifies either an uncountable noun or a plural countable noun:

• Is there any information available?
• Are there any documents available?

Negative sentences can also use no:

• There is no evidence of fraud.
• There are no signs of damage.
• There is no furniture in the room.

What About Measurements, Percentages, and Titles?

Measurements and percentages usually take there is when they represent one total amount, but they take there are when they refer to separate countable units. Titles, names, and quoted expressions usually take a singular verb when the title functions as one work or name.

Examples:

• There is five litres of water in the container.
• There are five bottles of water in the container.
• There is 20 percent humidity in the room.
• There are 20 percent of the participants still waiting.
• There is ten minutes left.
• There are ten minutes of interviews in the recording.

Some measurement expressions vary by meaning and dialect. There is ten dollars on the table treats the money as one amount, while There are ten dollars on the table can treat the dollars as ten individual bills or coins. In formal writing, make the intended meaning explicit:

• The account contains ten dollars.
• The table has ten one-dollar bills.

Titles behave similarly:

• There is a film called “The Two Towers.”
• There is a newspaper called “The Times.”
• There are two books in the series.

The number inside a title does not automatically determine the verb. The grammatical head is usually film, newspaper, or book.

What Are the Most Common Errors?

The most common errors arise when writers match the verb with a nearby noun, pluralize an uncountable noun, or transfer casual speech into formal writing. Correcting the head noun and the noun’s countability resolves most mistakes.

Incorrect sentence	Correct sentence	Reason
There are a group outside.	There is a group outside.	Group is singular.
There is many reasons.	There are many reasons.	Reasons is plural.
There are much traffic today.	There is much traffic today.	Traffic is uncountable.
There isn’t any cookies.	There aren’t any cookies.	Cookies is plural.
There are three piece of advice.	There are three pieces of advice.	Piece is the countable unit.
There are an issue with the form.	There is an issue with the form.	Issue is singular.

Two practitioner rules are particularly useful.

First, inspect the head noun, not the nearest noun. “There is a collection of rare books” is correct because collection is singular.

Second, test whether the noun can naturally follow a number. You can say three chairs, but not normally three advices or three informations. If a noun cannot be counted directly, use there is or add a countable unit such as pieces, items, or types.

A third rule applies to editing: if a coordinated list produces uncertainty, rewrite it. “The report identifies a laptop and three notebooks” is clearer than debating whether “there is” or “there are” should introduce the list.

Should Formal Writers Avoid There Is and There Are?

Formal writers should not eliminate existential clauses completely, because the construction efficiently introduces new information. Writers should revise repeated or weak examples when a direct subject can make the sentence shorter and more specific.

Compare:

• There are three factors that influence cost.
• Three factors influence cost.

The second sentence is more direct because three factors becomes the grammatical subject. However, the first sentence may be useful when the existence of the factors is the point or when the sentence continues with a location:

• There are three factors that influence cost in rural clinics.
• There is a significant difference between the two methods.

Existential clauses are especially appropriate when:

• introducing an unknown person or object;
• describing what exists in a place;
• presenting a newly discovered problem;
• announcing an event or change;
• contrasting presence and absence.

They become less effective when several consecutive sentences begin with there is or there are. Repeated openings can obscure the real subject and create a flat rhythm.

Alternatives to There Is and There Are

Direct subject-verb sentences, contain, include, exist, and location-first structures can replace existential clauses when precision matters. The best alternative depends on whether the sentence emphasizes existence, ownership, location, quantity, or action.

Existential sentence	Direct alternative	Main improvement
There are three errors in the report.	The report contains three errors.	Names the location as subject
There is a delay in processing.	Processing has been delayed.	Emphasizes the event
There are several causes of failure.	Several causes produce failure.	Gives causes an active role
There is a café beside the station.	A café stands beside the station.	Places the noun first
There are two options available.	Users can choose between two options.	Identifies the decision-maker

Do not replace every occurrence automatically. There is a café beside the station sounds natural when giving directions because the sentence introduces a place. A café stands beside the station is grammatical but more literary and less conversational.

The practical editing test is simple: retain there is or there are when existence or location is the main information; rewrite when the noun can perform a clearer action.

FAQ

Is “There is two people” ever correct?

In standard edited English, write There are two people because people is a plural countable noun. “There is two people” occurs in informal speech and some regional varieties because speakers may use there’s as an invariable introduction, but professional and academic writing should use there are.

Is “There is a lot of people” correct?

Standard formal English uses There are a lot of people because people is plural. The phrase a lot of does not control agreement; the noun after it does. Use There is a lot of traffic because traffic is uncountable, but use There are a lot of cars because cars is plural.

Should I write “there is” or “there are” before “a number of”?

Use there are before a number of + plural noun: “There are a number of reasons.” The expression means “several” in this pattern. Do not confuse it with the number of, which is singular: “There is a number of reasons” is nonstandard, while “The number of reasons is surprising” is correct.

Which is correct, “there is no” or “there are no”?

Both are correct, but the noun determines the form. Use there is no with a singular or uncountable noun, as in “There is no evidence.” Use there are no with a plural noun, as in “There are no witnesses.” The word no does not change the noun’s grammatical number.

Is “there is” used with a singular subject after “of”?

Yes. Match the verb with the head noun before the of phrase: “There is a list of names,” because list is singular. Use “There are lists of names” when lists is plural. The noun names is not the subject in either sentence; it only completes the modifying phrase.

Can “there is” introduce a plural list?

In conversational English, speakers commonly say “There’s a laptop and two notebooks.” Formal agreement normally favors There are a laptop and two notebooks, although that version may sound less natural. For clear professional prose, rewrite the sentence as “A laptop and two notebooks are on the desk.”

The Bottom Line

The choice between there is and there are depends on the delayed subject that follows the verb. Use there is with singular countable nouns and uncountable nouns, and use there are with plural countable nouns. Check the head noun rather than a nearby noun, treat collective phrases carefully, and use there are instead of conversational there’s before plurals in formal writing. When a list creates uncertainty, rewrite the sentence with a direct subject.